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13 Sep, 2025
Justice delayed, justice denied: UDM on forensic backlogs and victims’ rights
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply concerned about the ongoing forensic backlog in South Africa, which is denying victims of crime timely access to justice. A tragic example is the Lambert family in Roodepoort, whose daughter Kaayla Lambert, along with two friends, lost their lives in a drunk driving crash. Due to the severe backlog in toxicology and postmortem reports in Gauteng, the investigation into the crash has been delayed, leaving the families without closure while the suspect remains free. According to reports, the alleged drunk driver might be a Member of Parliament, which makes this case particularly important. Nationally, the backlog is compounded by over 140,000 pending DNA case entries as of May 2025, including more than 28,000 court-bound cases, many of which involve gender-based violence, femicide, and other violent crimes. These delays prevent timely prosecutions and undermine public confidence in the justice system. Crime in South Africa is out of control, with violent crime, drunk driving fatalities, and other criminal acts devastating families and communities. Every delay in processing forensic evidence and DNA analyses emboldens criminals and leaves ordinary South Africans exposed and unprotected. The justice system’s slow response sends a dangerous signal that perpetrators can act with impunity. The human cost of these delays is immense. Families endure prolonged trauma while perpetrators evade accountability, eroding trust in law enforcement and the courts. The Lambert case illustrates the tragic consequences of systemic failures, highlighting the urgent need for the government to act. The UDM calls on the national government to: • Rapidly increase staffing, equipment, and operational capacity at all forensic laboratories, including toxicology and DNA units. • Complete and operationalise pending forensic infrastructure, such as the KwaZulu-Natal facility. • Prioritise court-bound cases, especially those involving violent crime, gender-based violence, and femicide. • Strengthen coordination between SAPS, the NPA, and courts to ensure timely prosecutions. Justice delayed is justice denied. The UDM urges government to act decisively so that all South Africans, particularly victims of crime, can trust that the law protects them and that perpetrators are held accountable.
